Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-12-22

corps of assistants open the mails, run
through the matter and hand the ques-
tionable stuff to the censor, who de-
cides if it should be detained, destroyed
or passed. This process makes the de-
livery of all mail matter except letters
very slow. The newspapers in Russia
are of very little Importance on ac-
count of the censorship. Every article,
even to local paragraph, discussing
Russian affairs or referring directly or
remotely TO the Emperor or his family,
the army, navy or any official, al
though it may say that so-and-so is
going to such and such places on a
visit, must be referred to the censor.
Editors tell me that their articles are
so long delayed by the censor even
though he passes favorably upon them,
that it is not worth while to attempt
to use political matter or news relating
to any one or any thing connected
with the empire. 1t is not infrequent
that articles are referred to the Gar,
and the author is summoned to appear
before his Excellency and explain the
object of publication. Thus the re-
straint of writers can no. be appre-
ciated by any except those who have
had the experience.
There is q lower grade of intelli-
gence in the common people in Russia
than was ever found among the blacks
of America during slavery. The Amer
lean negro had from the very Begin
ming natural "horse sense" cum
ming which gave him reason. There is
nothing in the minds of the mass of
Russians except that which is carried
by the senses of sight and hearing.
They do not reason. In St Petersburg
there are thousands of drosky Gear
riage) drivers, and am told that not
one in twenty can read the signs a ong
the streets, and not two in five hun
dred can read u book or newspaper.
And yet these men have had for Rus
STA, extraordinary opportunities.
What, then, must be the condition OF
the people in the country-those who
have not had contact with the world.
The proportion Of the ignorant
people to the intelligent and educated
is about go per cent. OF tho 100, 000,-
900 population in Russia about 60, 000,-
600 were either among the serfs freed
by Alexander IL. a quarter of Il century
ago or are the offspring of those white
slaves. They do not know what Il
school is, and have learned more alb
ject manners than our black folks.
have never encOu ntcred so much OBJ
sequiousness anywhere. Not only do
the working people pcrpetratc upon
the visitor all sorts of salaams, but
merchants and people in the upper
classes have the infection, and bow and
blink till white free man must blush.
| expected to find the Russians a
fiercelooking people. They are the very
opposite F.crceness must be accom-
panied by a degree of mental sub
stance. The average Russian one
meets in the streets or in the country
is of medium size He is of light yell
low tan color, from exposure to wealth
er and existence upon coarse food.
Generally he wears full beard, and
four times out of five it is light in
color and very filthy. His hair is about
two inches thick, is cut as if the work
was done with meat axe or a circu-
lar saw, and besides being combed
down in front is slightly parted in the
middle, as though he were not ure
whether he is male or female. He in
variably wears high-topped boots, and
his trousers are tucked into the boot
tops. The boot tops have series of
finely artistic wrinkles midway, and
are generally we'll oiled. This is the
only tasteful indication in the dress.
The coat of & peasant is cross be-
teen robe, frock aud blouse. 1t
comes almost to tho knees. is single
breasted, and has aMide belt. Il the
subject is driver he wears arobe and
btlt and the garment is of blue cloth
and comes to the ground. The head
wear is broad cap with low crown.
The Russian is as filthy as he is ig-
norant and unsightly. Only three OF
four of the principal hotels have any
, preparations for bathing, and these are
extremely meager The Russian bath
in Russia is myth. Ipaid three rou-
bles for place to take a very ordinary
/ bath in the principal hotel to-day. Not
one palace in five has bath, and MS
the waters of the Neva are too cold fol-
{ swimming baths, the people, as amass,
|, shed their accumulated filth like fish
scales, And since dried fish, oil and
cured vegetables form the staple diet
for tue majority of the people, and the
, Neva, which furnishes the water sup
ply, can be detected miles distant by
: the nostrils, it is only the cold atmos
; phere that prevents long mort uary
lists.
, Robbery is very common in all Rus
E STA. Looking out on a street here on,
r sees hundreds and hundreds of men
$ women and children walking or driv
( ing with barred heads and making cross
I es at every shrine. The drivers ART
: continually at it. Only the wickeC
/ gendarme deigns to pass without no
t tice. The steps leading to the hun
0 dreds of churches are covered with PEG
0 pie of all grades on their knees makinl
: crosses and humping their forehead
r on the stones or pavements. The can
a dies at the shrines are kept burning
continually. at the expense Of the EN-
e pire, and almost every other store o
: shop has large display of glitterin!
: brass and paint in the form of shrines
!, And yet there is more crime here sn'
4 more Ignorance than in any other cir